Pups in the pool - is that cool? Care & service tips for Austin dog owners.

As the Summer heats up, we’re all looking to spend as much time as possible in our crystal clear pool and, especially here in the Austin area, there’s a big chance you’ve got a four-legged friend who’s a fan of your backyard oasis too. 

Just like you and me, dogs love a sparkling cool pool. At Pyramid Pool Service, we’re dog owners ourselves and we understand that the puppers have to cool off the same as the people do, but is it okay for our canine companions to splash about with the family?

Like most things in life there’s pros and cons to letting your best furry friends in the pool.  For the most part, swimming is safe as far as your dogs are concerned, especially if your water chemistry is Pyramid Perfect (and if it’s anything less, give us a call for a free consultation today).

The problem is, our dogs bring a bunch of problems with them into the water. Dirt, hair and all sorts of organisms,  add a huge strain on your equipment, reducing the efficiency of your filtration system.

It’s amazing just how much even a small, short-hair dog will shed - and all that hair and dirt ends up in the filter.  This extra load on your equipment means more frequent cleanings  and potentially even more frequent replacements and expensive maintenance. 

For example one of our long-time weekly maintenance customers here in Austin, Texas loves to let their four golden retrievers in the backyard pool. While this keeps the dogs cool and happy, it means they need a full filter clean every two weeks - rather than the regular once every three months.

A rule of thumb is one dog  puts the equivalent strain on chemistry and equipment equivalent to 5-15 people.

It’s not just the equipment  though. To keep your pool Pyramid Perfect, we pay careful close attention to proper chemical balance. With frequent doggo use, the water quality and chemistry deteriorates quickly, raising pH and reducing available chlorine.  We need to use more chemicals, more frequently to keep the pool crystal clear and free of algae. Obviously this can add a considerable cost to your pool care bottom line.

Of course, the decision to let your fur babies swim with the family is entirely up to you. We recommend keeping the pool a people-only zone. Keeping the pups dry will make it easier and less expensive to keep your pool perfect. 

Finally, if you do let the puppers splash about, here are a few pool service tips for dog owners to help reduce the wear and tear on equipment. If you can brush and wash them before they dive in, you’ll reduce the amount of dirt and hair they add to the system.  Even better, if you know you want a dog friendly pool, it might be cost effective to invest in a higher capacity filtration system to deal with the extra load.

Happy Swimming!